Sports
NSF 2014: Director Tasks Benue On Early Preparation
The Director, Benue Sports
Council, David Orngu, has urged sports authorities in the state to take urgent steps to enhance athletes’ performance for the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF).
The 19th edition of the fiesta, tagged “Paradise Games” will be staged by Cross River in Calabar from November 23 to December 7.
Orngu told our correspondent on telephone that Benue’s contingent would prepare well and be a team to watch out for at the Games.
“We will start training our athletes now to avoid late preparations and also to improve on the results we had at the last festival and the National Youth Games in Abuja.
“Part of our plans is that we will organise zonal competitions to select athletes that will represent us at the festival,” he said.
Benue was 17th out the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory that participated in the last edition of the Games in Lagos, tagged “Eko 2012”.
According to Orngu, the state will operate an open camp system for now so that new athletes will be discovered to join those who usually represented it at major competitions.
The director said that sponsorship of sport programmes was a major challenge due to the low number of private organisations doing business in the state. “The biggest problem is that there are no companies that are ready to sponsor sports programmes,” Orngu said
He said that the few companies that were there were not willing to support any sports activity targeted at building budding talents.
“We depend completely on government funds and this affects us because we need private support as government cannot do it alone,” Orngu said.
He appealed to the government and corporate organisations to sponsor more national and state competitions to discover talents.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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